Standard-Speaker from Hazleton, Pennsylvania • 1

Audit: Federal gov't overpaid PHEAA $35 million Page 18 ine 11 Serving Luzerne, Carbon, Schuylkill, Columbia and Monroe counties since 1866 AN EDITION OF TIMES-SHAMROCK NEWSPAPERS WWW.STANDARDSPEAKER.COM TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2007 50 CENTS Asphalt plant debate continues Three hearing continuations set 1 Jr. Vr asphalt mix. The plant itself is largely pre-manufactured. It would be moved, located and secured, rather than built. It is manufactured by Astec Asphalt Facilities, headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Monday night, Hawbaker attorney Joseph Lack put Astec Vice President Malcolm Swanson, an engineer registered in several states, including Pennsylvania, and the holder of 20-plus patents related to asphalt mixing, on the witness stand. He explained what the plant did and didn't do. ByULTARONE StaffWriter Even after a four-plus hour hearing that was at times sharp and testy, the Hazle Township Zoning Hearing Board is no closer to making a decision regarding the asphalt plant proposed for East Milnesville. Board Chairman Brian Zukowsky has scheduled three more hearing continuations Dec. 13, Dec.

18 and Dec. 19. Plus, he said he wanted to schedule at least one public input hearing sometime in January, meaning a decision on Glenn 0. Hawbaker Inc's application likely won't come until then. tioned the safety of the plant, but instead its location.

It's proposed to be on Schiavo Drive, not far from the intersection with Route 309. Lattimer, Milnesville, Pardeesville, Calbeth Place and Hollywood are all within a mile and a half of it, as are housing developments Ridge-wood, Churchview and Oakmont Acres. Residents contend the plant should be placed in an industrial zone. The plant is proposed where it is because of the nearby quarry; rocks from it will be used in the In fact, there is even disagreement over what approvals the proposed plant needs. The board had Hawbaker apply for a special exception.

But Hawbaker contends the plant constitutes light industry, which is permitted in a mining zone. Don Karpowich, the attorney hired by a group of local residents to fight the application, contends the plant constitutes heavy industry, which is not permitted in a mining zone. Residents haven't really ques -V BLAINE FALKENAStandard-Speaker Marguerite Benderovich wears a "NO ASPHALT PLANT" sign around her See PLANT, page 2 neck Monday during the meeting. Man hurt in Schuylkill fire Forecast Milder with Showers High Near 48 Details, page 20 Police hope new sketch can help ID 'Doe' JL Margarita Zamudio Hazleton 1v I Today's DIGEST Sports rf- jr-- By JILL WIIALEN StaffWriter A new composite sketch might shed some light on the identity of the murdered pregnant woman known only as "Beth Doe." While investigators have confidence in the forensic artist's rendering, they're not so sure another avenue to find who she is will pan out. According to Cpl.

Thomas C. McAndrew, who's leading the investigation for the Pennsylvania State Police's Troop barracks in Hazleton, there's a chance that no deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) will be extracted from samples taken from her remains last month. "The samples are in Texas right now," McAndrew said, referring to a crime laboratory there. "They don't even know if they can extract DNA from them. They might be too old." Investigators had been hopeful that advanced forensic tech nology- like the use of DNA to identify a victim could be applied to the almost-21 -year-old cold case of the woman See SKETCH, page 20 A-Rod named MVP NEW YORK Alex Rodriguez has millions of dollars in his ment accounts, three AL MVP awards for his trophy case and zero World Series rings for his fingers.

Pag 29 .1 'y. Ll. SPECIAL TO THE STANDARD-SPEAKER A man was critically burned when fire broke out in his Walker Township home Monday morning. Walker Township fire likely accidental, chief says Local Eachus talks salaries High school graduates who get jobs at the proposed cargo airport could expect salaries in the range, while those with college educations will command that figure as a minimum, and perhaps into the six-figure category. That's what state Rep.

Todd Eachus told a group of educational leaders during a meeting last week. Pag 5 V. By FRANK ANDRUSCAVAGE StaffWriter A man was critically burned when flames tore through his Walker Township, Schuylkill County, home Monday morning. The fire along River Road was reported just after 8 a.m. when firefighters met with heavy flames blowing from windows of the home.

Walker Township Fire Chief Bruce Schock said Anthony Zahora was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital near Allentown via ambulance because no medical helicopters could fly due to the winter weather. A spokeswoman at Lehigh Valley said Zahora, whose age was not available, was treated and admitted to the burn unit in critical condition. Schock said that he is working with the state police fire marshal, Trooper John F. Burns, to determine what sparked the blaze. He said the fire does not appear to be suspicious.

"We think it was accidental," Schock said. "It's still semi-under investigation." Burns agreed but said he would like to interview Zahora before completing his investigation and making a final determination. Burns estimated damage to the home to be around $90,000. Reports initially indicated that there was a man was trapped in the burning home. However, when firefighters arrived on scene they found the badly burned man standing along the roadway.

Reports from the scene indicated that a small explosion might have triggered the blaze. Burns said he also was told of the small explosion but did not find any evidence to confirm that. The trooper said that he is hoping that speaking with Zahora will shed light on how the fire started. Firefighters from West Penn No. 1, Andreas; Community Fire New Ringgold; New England Fire Walker Township, and the American Hose and Citizen's Fire companies, Tama-qua, responded to the blaze.

The Tamaqua Rescue Squad also assisted. fandruscavagerepublicanherald.com (4- Stocks This Is a new composite sketch of the murdered pregnant woman known only as "Beth Doe" found almost 21 years ago in Carbon County. Dow Jo net -Industrials 12.95844 Nasdaq COmpOSiU 2.593 38 Standard Peor's500 1.433.27 Experts Concerned Over Heart deaths drop 1917 School directors argue over newly created job Russell 2000 750.33 findings on heart disease Pag 35 The U.S. death rate from heart disease in women fell 49 percent since 1 980, but the rate for women aged 35-44 rose. U.S.

mortality from coronary heart disease ages 35-44 60 deaths per 100,000 50 Men Deaths down in older adults, but not in younger ones Obituaries By MIKE STOBBE Associated Press Writer 40 -Vv- Women Mary Catherine Fusettl Edward N. Hacker Pag 2 20 0 10 SO DO Index ATLANTA For decades, heart disease death rates have been falling. But a new study shows a troubling turn more women under 45 are dying of heart disease due to cloggecf arteries, and the death rate for men that age has leveled off. Heart experts aren't sure what went wrong, but they think increasing rates of obesity and other risk factors are to Minority directors said the majority is rushing to fill the director of human resources position in order to get the candidate of its choice in the job before the board reorganizes. By SAM GALS KI StaffWriter Some Hazleton Area school directors are concerned that politics fueled a rush by the board majorityto fill a new director of human resources position.

One director even proposed abolishing the position if the current majority appoints a candidate. Minority school directors Elaine Cuny, Carmella Yenke-vich, Steve Hahn and Dr. Robert Quids contend that school board President Rick Morelli and majority directors are rushing to fill the estimated $100,000 position so the majority can hire its own candidate before the board reorganizes in December. "(Morelli) is like the Lone Ranger," Curry said. "Morelli is attempting, at the moment before he leaves office, to saddle the district with another of his high-salaried, low-qualified cronies." Former school director Dan Rodgers, who served as part of a majority with Morelli and unsuccessfully campaigned for re-election with Director Sean Shamany in 2005, is one of at least 40 applicants vying for the position, district officials said.

Despite concerns voiced by the minority, school board President Rick Morelli said See DIRECTORS, page 2 U.S. age-adjusted mortality from coronary heart disease for those aged 35 years 1,000 dearths par 100,000 versify of North Carolina epidemiology professor and expert on heart disease statistics. "This could be a harbinger of things to come," Rosamond said. To be sure, the overall trend is still positive: From 1980 through 2002, the death rate from blocked heart arteries was cut in half for men and women over 35. Improvements in treatment and preventive measures, including cholesterol-lowering medications, get the credit But what's going on with younger adults is startling, said Dl Anthony DeMaria, editor of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, which is publishing the study and released it Monday.

See FINDINGS, page 2 36 6-7 16 12 Business Classified Comics, Puzzle Community Editorial Lifestyles Local 800 blame. ft Women Local Schools Sports The rates will have to be monitored to see if this is the beginning of a real trend. But if the data holds, the new study may be an early glimpse of the impact of escalating obesity I -J; ii 200 10 it AP SOWCE tor Disease ConW nd Preweon Milt ttiiu Uiducics uii u.o. ucauii, 'Uiii' i said Wayne Rosamond, a Uni- os.